Ice machine with remote monitoring

ABSTRACT

A commercial ice making machine having an electronic monitoring device which captures the operating status and production history of the ice machine. The ice production history of the machine is communicated via telephony and/or the Internet on a regular recurring basis to a remote computer. The production history is used to generate invoices to the user of the ice machine, so that the user is charged based on his or her actual ice consumption. Failure of the ice machine is detected by the monitoring device and communicated immediately to a service company so that the ice machine can be repaired before the end user realizes the machine has failed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/683,580, filed on Oct. 10, 2003, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/417,468, filed onOct. 10, 2002.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of ice machines.Specifically, the present invention relates to ice machines whoseoperation is monitored via electronics which in turn communicates theice machine's operational status and ice production history to a remotecomputer.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commercial ice making machines are used in restaurants, bars, hotels,schools, stadiums, arenas, grocery stores and the like. Such machinesare typically mounted on top of an ice bin or an ice dispenser that iskept full of ice by the machine.

Commercial ice making machines come in a wide variety of types andproduction capacities so that the customers for such machines can buyone that closely matches his or her application. Because there is such awide array of machine choices, it is possible for an ice machinecustomer to minimize the amount of money he must spend on the initialpurchase by picking the machine that makes just enough ice for hisapplication. Unfortunately, this can result in an ice machine that isoutgrown quickly if the owner's ice-needs increase. Because all of themajor manufacturers of ice making machines offer the same wide varietyof ice machine models, they all experience additional costs associatedwith manufacturing, stocking, selling, servicing and providing parts fora huge array of machines.

All commercial ice machines require regular maintenance. For example,manufacturers typically recommend cleaning the machines a minimum ofevery six months. Besides this regular maintenance, over the life of anice machine (typically 7 to 10 years) it is not uncommon for an icemachine to break down such that the a repairman must be called to fixthe machine. Typically a broken machine will be noticed when the binruns out of ice, and does not fill back up. At this point theestablishment must not only call for service, but must also go purchaseice since at this point they are completely out. They must continue topurchase ice until the machine is back up and running.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system for monitoring the status and/or ice production of an icemaking device, the system comprising: at least one detector fordetermining the status and/or ice production of the ice making device,thereby producing detected status and/or ice production data; amicroprocessor; and a transmitter for communicating detected statusand/or ice production data from the detector to the microprocessor. Thesystem may optionally also include an additional transmitter forcommunicating the detected status and/or ice production data from themicroprocessor to a service provider.

The service provider is at least one provider selected from the groupconsisting of: ice making device repair provider, ice making devicemanufacturer, leasing agent and ice supplier.

The transmitter and additional transmitter are at least one selectedfrom the group consisting of: Internet, wired telephony, wirelesstelephony, cable, and any other device capable of communicating thestatus and/or ice production data from the detector to themicroprocessor and/or from the microprocessor to the service provider.

The detector preferably comprises: a first sensor for determining if theice storage bin switch is either opened or closed; a second sensor fordetermining if the hot gas valve is on or off; a microprocessor fordetermining the freeze and/or harvest times for the ice making device tofreeze and/or harvest ice during an ice making freeze/harvest cycleand/or number of the freeze/harvest cycles; and a data generator whichis capable of producing the status and/or ice production data. Thestatus and/or ice production data is at least one selected from thegroup consisting of: freeze cycle time, harvest cycle time, count ofcompleted freeze/harvest cycles, and ice making device fault alert. Theice making device fault alert is at least one selected from the groupconsisting of: freeze time exceeded the predetermined maximum freezetime limit, freeze time is less than the predetermined minimum freezetime limit, harvest time exceeded the predetermined maximum harvest timelimit, or harvest time is less than the predetermined minimum harvesttime limit.

The status and/or ice production data communicated to the microprocessoris at least one selected from the group consisting of: identification ofthe ice making device, cycle time for the ice making device to completea freeze and/or harvest cycle, the number of cycles which the ice makingdevice has completed during the detection period, and status of the icemaking device.

The microprocessor is capable of transmitting at least one data selectedfrom the group consisting of: identification of the ice making device,location of ice making device, owner contact information, cycle time forthe ice making device to complete a freeze and/or harvest cycle, thenumber of cycles which the ice making device has completed during thedetection period, other operation data, status of the ice making device,operational history of ice making device, identification of parts likelyto be needed to repair ice making device, and probable cause of alertproblem.

An additional embodiment according to the present invention pertainingto a method for monitoring the status and/or ice production of an icemaking device, the method comprising: determining the status and/or iceproduction of the ice making device, thereby producing detected statusand/or ice production data; and communicating the status and/or iceproduction data from the detector to a microprocessor.

Still yet another embodiment according to the present invention includesa method for monitoring an ice making device comprising a bin switch anda hot gas valve, the method comprising: determining if the bin switch iseither opened or closed; determining if the hot gas valve is on or off;determining the freeze and/or harvest times for the ice making device tofreeze and/or harvest ice during an ice making freeze/harvest cycleand/or determine the number of freeze/harvest cycles; and generating thestatus and/or ice production data.

The present invention is also directed to an electronic device which iscapable of monitoring an ice making machine having a bin switch and ahot gas valve, the device comprising: a first sensor for determining ifthe bin switch is either opened or closed; a second sensor fordetermining if the hot gas valve is on or off; a microprocessor fordetermining the freeze and/or harvest times for the ice making device tofreeze and/or harvest ice during an ice making freeze/harvest cycleand/or for determining the number of freeze/harvest cycles; and a datagenerator which is capable of producing the status and/or ice productiondata.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the invention can be had by reference to thefollowing Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanyingDrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an schematic block diagram of the process according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a logic flow diagram of the operation of the electronicmonitoring device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a logic flow diagram of the operation of a remote computeraccording to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a period report generation scheme accordingto the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a system and method whereby a commercial icemachine's operational status and ice production is monitored by anelectronic monitoring device mounted inside or near the ice machine.This monitoring device periodically communicates the ice machine'sstatus and ice production, via a phone line, the internet, or both, to aremote computer which tracks the ice machine. The user of the monitoredice machine (e.g., a restaurant) would be charged or billed for actualice produced, as evidenced by the monitored data, rather than buying theice machine outright. In addition, the monitoring computer would notifya service company and a supplier of ice in the event that a failure ofthe monitored ice machine was detected.

The method provides a user of ice, e.g., a restaurant, bar, school orthe like, with a means to have an ice machine at their facility, butonly pay for the ice used. This allows the user to acquire the use of anice machine without having a large upfront payment. It also allows theuser to be assured that he is only paying for ice he's using, and notexcess capacity—as he might do if he acquired a large ice machine via atraditional lease. This invention will be particularly attractive to iceusers who only need ice during certain times of the week or year (e.g.,stadiums, schools).

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a meansof delivering ice to a user whereby the user does not care if the icemachine's production capacity is oversized. Typically, a user would buyan ice machine with a production capacity that is closely matched tothat user's ice consumption requirements, because it is in his economicinterest to do so. Buying an oversized ice machine would be anunnecessary added expense. However, because with the present inventionthe user only pays for ice used, the user is not concerned with the sizeof the ice machine, as long as it is has sufficient ice productioncapacity. This allows the ice machine manufacturer/provider to selectthe ice machine size based on the manufacturer's needs, not the users.Thus for example, the manufacturer may choose to have a smaller array ofice production capacities, since a smaller offering will result inincreased manufacturing efficiencies, smaller inventory levels and willfacilitate machine servicing (since fewer parts will be needed on theservice trucks).

Still yet another advantage relates to a means to detect ice machinefailure before it would normally be detected. As stated previously, theend user typically detects ice machine failure when the bin runs out ofice and does not refill. With a monitored ice machine, the monitoringcomputer could detect failure when the failure occurs, not when the binruns out. This allows a service call to be made hours earlier than wouldnormally be possible, mitigating the need to buy replacement ice, andminimizing or eliminating any ice shortage to the customer.

The present invention also provides the ability to monitor the amount ofice consumed by the user. This information can be used to predict whenor if the user will need a larger ice machine to meet his requirements.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a means whereby the userand/or provider of the ice machine can know when, based on how much icehas been used, the machine will require service. Typically ice machinemaintenance is done on a periodic basis regardless of ice used, e.g.,cleaning the machine every six months. The present invention, bymonitoring actual ice production and use, can be used to schedulemaintenance when it's needed instead of simply when its scheduled.

Another benefit of the present invention is that it allows fasterservicing of a failed ice machine. Because the operational history ofthe ice machine can be provided, via the monitoring computer to theservice technician prior to his arrival at the machine, it is possiblefor the technician to have a good idea of what's wrong with the machineeven before he sees it. This knowledge will speed up diagnosis of themachine and thus the service call itself. Likewise, a knowledge of themachine and its most likely problem prior to the visit will allow thetechnician to be thoroughly prepared, having the right parts to make therepair.

The present invention consists of a conventional ice making machine, anelectronic monitoring device, a remote computer and a communicationmeans between the computer and the monitoring device. The monitoringdevice is connected to components or controls inside the ice machine toallow the monitoring device to know such things as: a) if the icemachine is being requested to make ice (e.g., the ice storage bin is notfull), b) how many ice making cycles have occurred, c) the duration ofthe ice making cycles, including the length of time for both the d)freezing portion of the cycle, and e) harvesting portion of the cycle.With this limited information, it is possible to determine how much icethe machine has made during a given time period and whether or not themachine is operating properly.

On a periodic basis, for example every night, the electronic monitoringdevice establishes communications with the remote computer via thecommunications means. It then transfers to the remote computer how manyice making cycles occurred during the prior 24 hours, and the length ofthe freeze and harvest cycles and when they occurred, and when the binwas full or not full. The remote computer logs this information.

Logic on board the monitoring device also causes communications with theremote computer to be established when the monitoring device detects afailure of the ice machine. The exact logic used to determine thefailure will vary and depend on the size and type of ice machinemonitored. In many cases, however, it is possible to detect failuresimply by detecting that:

-   -   a) The machine is being requested to make ice, AND    -   b) The length of the freeze portion of the ice making cycle is        falling outside the predetermined maximum or minimum time, OR    -   c) The length of the harvest portion of the ice making cycle is        falling outside the predetermined maximum or minimum time.

The information gathered by the remote computer would be used in thefollowing ways:

The information on how many ice making cycles occurred would be used asa basis for billing the user of the ice machine. For example, the icemachine user could be billed based on how many pounds of ice he or shehad used in the prior month based on how many ice making cycles wererecorded for that time period. By knowing how many pounds of ice areproduced each ice making cycle (which is typically a known andconsistent number for cube-type ice making machines), it is simply amatter of multiplication to determine how many pounds were generated bya known number of ice making cycles. The dollar amount to be billed tothe customer would then be based on the pounds of ice produced and theagreed upon pricing schedule. Preparation of the customer invoices couldeither be done on the remote computer, or the necessary data could becommunicated to a third party to do invoice preparation and delivery.

The communication from the monitoring device to the remote computerindicating a machine failure is used to immediately initiate a requestto a service company to repair the ice machine. With a conventional icemachine, the need for a service call typically is not apparent until theice bin runs empty. This wouldn't happen until many hours, and possiblydays, after the failure actually occurred.

Because of that time delay, a machine failure will typically result inthe end user having to purchase bagged ice until the machine is back upand running and the bin refilled. By initiating the service callimmediately upon detection of the failure, it is possible to fix themachine in many cases before the ice bin has been depleted, eliminating(or at least reducing) the need to purchase bagged ice.

Likewise, the failure indication can also be used to initiate a requestto a provider of packaged ice to deliver ice to the failed icemachine—thus completely preventing the end user from running out of icein the event that the machine cannot be repaired immediately.

The information provided by the monitoring device can also be used tospeed the repair of the machine. The failure mode (for example thefreezing cycle is too long) can be communicated to the service companybefore they make the service call on the machine. With this failure modeinformation, and optionally the operating history of the machine, theservice technician will have a much better idea about what ispotentially wrong with the machine, what to check for, and what partsmay be needed.

The logged ice machine operating data can also be used in a number ofother ways. For example, ice production histories can be used toanticipate the need for a higher-capacity ice machine before an iceshortage at the end user's facility actually occurs. Ice productionhistory can be used by the end user to track time-of-day, day-of-week,or seasonal ice use. This information might then be used by the end userfor staffing, marketing or product development purposes. Cumulative iceproduction data could be used to determine when routine maintenanceshould be scheduled for a given ice machine.

More elaborate monitoring equipment could be used to also track suchthings as the biological or mineral content of the ice making water, theneed to service the water filters that supply the machine, or the needto replace the air filter on a machine.

Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the drawings, it should be understood thatsuch embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative ofbut a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which canrepresent applications of the principles of the present invention.Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art towhich the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit,scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined inthe appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic illustrating the basic components andinterconnections of the present invention, a cube-type ice machine 10 isrepresented. Ice machines of the type that make cubes, such as icemachine 10, typically contain a device referred to as a hot gas valve12. The hot gas valve 12 is used during the harvesting portion of an icemaking cycle to direct hot refrigerant into the evaporator of the icemachine to cause the ice to be released. Thus every ice making cycleincorporates a time during which the hot gas valve 12 is energized. Anelectronic monitoring device 14, located in or near ice machine 10 isconnected to the hot gas valve 12 in order to monitor its operation.Monitoring device 14 captures a number of relevant pieces of data aboutthe ice machine by logging when hot gas valve 12 is energized and whenit isn't. For example, the following data can be captured by monitoringthe hot gas valve 12:

-   -   How long the valve 12 is energized=length of the harvest    -   How long valve 12 is not energize=length of freeze    -   Time between subsequent energizing of valve 12=length of total        freeze cycle    -   Number of times energized per day=batches of ice produced per        day

In addition to the valve 12, monitoring device 14 is also connected tobin switch 16, which is used to control when the ice machine turns off.There are a number of ways for a device such as bin switch 16 to work,for example ice machine manufacturers have used mechanical switches,thermostats, and electric eyes to accomplish the bin switch 16 function.By monitoring the status of bin switch 16, monitoring device 14 candetermine if the ice machine 10 should be running or not. Thisinformation is critical in determining if the ice machine 10 isoperating properly.

On some regular basis, for example daily, monitoring device 14 initiatescommunications with a remote computer 20. The communication isaccomplished using a communication means 22. Communication means 22 canbe accomplished through a number of different methods, for example, aphone line (i.e., dial-up) type connection directly to computer 20 or aphone line to an Internet connection that would be used to communicateto computer 20. Communication means 22 can be a connection to theinternet using a DSL line, T1, cable internet, wireless (e.g., wi-fi) orany other suitable means to connect to the internet.

Information to be communicated on a regular basis from monitoring device14 to computer 20 include ice production information, and ideally allthe operating information monitored and logged by device 14. With thatinformation, computer 20 can determine the amount of ice produced overany given time period by ice machine 10, and is also capable ofreporting the complete usage and operational history of machine 10. Asstated previously, this information is beneficial for a number ofpurposes, including speeding service calls, predicting the need toincrease production capacity, and for the end user to better understandhis usage patterns and trends.

Using the ice production data from ice machine 10, computer 20 caneither generate invoices 30 that would be sent to the end user 40 orowner of ice machine 10 or transmit the production data to a third partyfor invoice generation. Invoices 30 charge the end user 40 for ice basedon that end user's 40 actual use of ice, as evidenced by the productiondata from the ice machine 10. This would be the means by which the enduser 40 would pay for the use of the ice machine.

In the event that monitoring device 14 detected a failure in ice machine10, device 14 would immediately initiate communications with computer 20via communication means 22. Device 14 would communicate to computer 20that a failure had been detected in ice machine 10. Ideally, device 14would also communicate to computer 20 what the mode of failure was. Forexample, these modes may include:

Freeze cycle too long (i.e., greater than the predetermined maximum)

Freeze cycle too short (i.e., less than the predetermined minimum)

Harvest cycle too long (i.e., greater than the predetermined maximum)

Harvest cycle too short (i.e., less than the predetermined minimum)

Device 14 may additionally communicate all performance data since theprevious communication with computer 20, so that computer 20 has all therelevant performance history up until the time of failure.

At this time, communication would be initiated from the remote computer20 to a service company 32 who would be instructed to make a servicecall to ice machine 10. That instruction may be done automatically bycomputer 20 or through some other means, for example via a humanoperator of computer 20. Ideally service company 32 would be providedwith details available on machine 10, including the mode of failure andits recent operating history. This information would be useful in thediagnosis and repair of the machine 10. At this time, a bagged icesupplier 34 may also be contacted to provide bagged ice to the end userto insure that he does not run out of ice.

FIGS. 2-4 relate to various flow diagrams for controlling electronicmonitoring device 14, remote computer 20 and the periodic reportgenerator of the present invention.

Operation of Electronic Monitoring Device

The preferred operation of electronic monitoring device 14 is set forthin FIG. 2, wherein device 14 is connected to hot gas valve 12 and binswitch 16 of ice machine 10 so the operation of machine 10 can bemonitored. Software within device 14 operates as shown in FIG. 2 and asdescribed below.

During operation, device 14 would continually monitor the status 50 ofbin switch 16 in order to determine if the ice machine is supposed to berunning. If the ice bin (or ice dispenser) below ice machine 10 is full,then bin switch 16 will be open (typically), causing the ice machine toturn off. Thus, if switch 16 is open, the ice machine 10 should be offwith no monitoring needed. Status monitor 50 will then continuouslycheck to ensure that switch 16 is open. Conversely, if switch 16 isclosed, ice machine 10 should be on and operating, and should bemonitored by device 14. If status monitor 50 determines that switch 16is ‘closed’, then electronic monitoring device 14 checks to determine ifhot gas valve 12 is ‘ON’ 52.

If hot gas valve 12 is ON (energized), machine 10 is executing an iceharvesting sequence. If this is the case, device 14 will track 54 thetime that valve 12 stays energized (the Harvest time), record that timeinto memory, and check the Harvest time to be sure its within theprescribed parameters, i.e., not longer that the predetermined MAX time,and not less than the predetermined MIN time. If the Harvest time isoutside of the predetermined MAX range 56, device 14 will be instructedto immediately perform a Call-out function 58, whereby it makes aconnection to remote computer 20 and uploads all data stored since thelast Call-out (e.g., cycle times, cycle counts, machine ID) alertcomputer 20 that the Harvest time was either shorter or longer than thepredetermined limits. If the Harvest time is not outside thepredetermined MAX range, then it checks to see if the Harvest time isoutside of the predetermined MIN range 60. If the Harvest time isoutside the MIN range, then it performs Call-out function step 58. Ifthe Harvest time is neither outside of the predetermined MAX or MINranges, then device 14 checks to determine if the predetermined time tocall-out has been met 62. If the predetermined time to call-out has notbeen met, then device 14 returns to step 50 to determine again if thebin switch is ‘closed’. If the predetermined time to call-out has beenmet, then device 14 performs call-out step 64 which uploads cycle times,uploads cycle count and indicates that the unit is okay to remotecomputer 20. After call-out step 64 is performed, device 14 returns tostep 50 and the sequence of monitoring control steps is performed again.

If hot gas valve 12 is OFF (de-energized), and bin switch 16 is CLOSED,one can assume that machine 10 is in the freeze portion of an ice-makingcycle. In this case device 14 would record the Freeze time into memory66 and thereafter determine if the Freeze time is greater than apredetermined MAX time limit 68. If the freeze time is greater than apredetermined MAX time limit 68, then, device 14 would be instructed toimmediately perform a Call-out function 70. As described above, device14 would connect to computer 20 and upload all data stored since thelast Call-out (e.g., cycle times, cycle counts, machine ID) alertcomputer 20 that the Freeze time was either shorter or longer than thepredetermined limits. If the Freeze time is not greater than apredetermined MAX time limit 68, then the system determines if theFreeze time is below a predetermined MIN time limit 72. If the Freezetime is below the predetermined MIN time limit 72, then the device 14would be instructed to immediately perform Call-out function 70. Afterperforming Call-out function 70, then system returns to step 50 andstarts all over. If the Freeze time is not above the predetermined MAXlimit nor below the predetermined MIN limit, then device 14 willdetermine if it is the predetermined time and predetermined schedule tocall-out 62. If it meets the predetermined time to call-out 62, then thesystem performs a call-out 64, including uploading of cycle times,uploading of cycle count and stating that the unit is okay. For example,it might be programmed to call-out every night at 3:00 AM or everySunday at 1:00 AM. If the predetermined time to call-out 62 has not beenmet, then the system returns to step 50 and starts the monitoring of thesystem again.

Operation of Remote Computer

The operation of remote computer 20 is described in FIG. 3, attachedhereto, wherein remote computer 20 receives communications 80 fromelectronic monitoring device 14 and take predetermined actions based onthe information received. The communications may include a data packethaving device identification, cycle times, cycle count and unit status(okay or not okay). Data may be received from device 14 viacommunication means 22 which may include an internet communication(e.g., email), a direct dial-up (modem) connection, wirelesscommunication or any other communication method now known or developedin the future which is capable of transmitting such communications 80from device 14 to remote computer 20. Data communicated to computer 20may be, but is not limited to, the identification of the ice machine 10,a log of the freeze and harvest times recorded by device 14, a total ofcycles recorded since the last communication and the status of the unit(e.g., unit okay, unit NOT okay: harvest too long, harvest too short,freeze too long or freeze too short).

The data packet or communication received by remote computer 20 is thenchecked to determine if it is okay 82. If the communication from step 80includes an alert that ice machine 10 was NOT okay, remote computer 20would transmit a notification 84 to designated service personnelalerting them to the problem and communicating the information needed.Such information would include machine information (i.e., location,model & serial number, owner contact information), the latest operatingdata log and suggested problems, and parts needed based on model numberand failure mode. The designated service personnel could include any orall of: the owner/customer, the designated service company and/or an icedelivery service. This would allow the designated service provider toimmediately visit the machine, making any needed repairs prior to thecustomer actually running out of ice. Alerting an ice delivery serviceof the machine failure would allow ice to be delivered to the machinelocation to insure that there was a sufficient supply of ice even if themachine could not be repaired immediately.

If the status of the ice machine 10 was “okay”, then this protocolprocedure is done 86 and no further action would be taken at time ofdata receipt.

FIG. 4 describes the periodic report generation features of the presentinvention. Remote computer 20 periodically generates predeterminedreports 88 desired for ice machine 10. Such reports could include, butare not limited to, graphs and statistics of operating performance. Thereports may also include invoices to the customer charging that customerfor actual pounds of ice produced by the machine 10. Such reports mayoptionally be communicated or transmitted 90 to designated personnel,such as the machine owner (e.g., a leasing company), machineuser/customer (e.g., a restaurant), and/or machine service provider.

1. A system for monitoring the status and/or ice production of an ice making device that comprises a hot gas valve and an ice storage bin, said system comprising: a microprocessor based controller for determining said status and/or ice production of said ice making device, thereby producing detected status and/or ice production data; optionally, a data storage device for storing said status and/or data; and a transmitter for communicating said status and/or data.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter communicates said detected status and/or data to a service provider.
 3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said service provider is at least one provider selected from the group consisting of: ice making device repair provider, ice making device manufacturer, leasing agent and ice supplier.
 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said detected status data comprises at least an identification of said ice making device and said ice making devices status.
 5. The system according to claim 5, wherein said ice production data comprises at least an identification of said ice making device and at least one additional parameter selected from the group consisting of: freeze/harvest cycle time and cycle count.
 6. The system according to claim 2, wherein said transmitter is at least one selected from the group consisting of: Internet, wired telephony, wireless telephony, cable, and any other device capable of communicating said status and/or ice production data from said detector to said first microprocessor and/or from said first microprocessor to said service provider.
 7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said status and/or ice production data is at least one selected from the group consisting of: freeze cycle time, harvest cycle time, count of completed freeze/harvest cycles, and ice making device fault alert.
 8. The system according to claim 11, wherein said ice making device fault alert is at least one selected from the group consisting of: when said freeze cycle time exceeds a predetermined maximum freeze cycle time limit, when the freeze cycle time is less than a predetermined minimum freeze cycle time limit, when the harvest cycle time exceeds a predetermined maximum harvest cycle time limit, and when the harvest cycle time is less than a predetermined minimum harvest cycle time limit.
 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said status and/or ice production data communicated is at least one selected from the group consisting of: identification of said ice making device, cycle time for said ice making device to complete a freeze and/or harvest cycle, the number of cycles which said ice making device has completed during the detection period, and status of said ice making device.
 10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said microprocessor is capable of transmitting at least one data selected from the group consisting of: identification of said ice making device, location of ice making device, owner contact information, cycle time for said ice making device to complete a freeze and/or harvest cycle, the number of cycles which said ice making device has completed during the detection period, other operation data, status of said ice making device, operational history of ice making device, identification of parts likely to be need to repair ice making device, and probable cause of alert problem.
 11. A system for monitoring the status and/or ice production of an ice making device, said system comprising: a microprocessor based controller for determining said status and/or ice production of said ice making device, thereby producing detected status and/or ice production data; and a transmitter for communicating detected status and/or ice production data.
 12. The system according to claim 8, wherein said microprocessor is capable of generating an invoice or having an invoice generated based upon said detected status and/or ice production data and wherein said invoice comprises at least one charge selected from the group consisting of: ice making device repair service charge, bagged ice charges and ice production charge.
 13. A method for monitoring the status and/or ice production of an ice making device, said method comprising: determining said status and/or ice production of said ice making device, thereby producing detected status and/or ice production data; and communicating said status and/or ice production data, wherein said determining step comprises: determining the freeze and/or harvest times for said ice making device to freeze and/or harvest ice during an ice making freeze/harvest cycle and/or the number of the freeze/harvest cycles; and generating said status and/or ice production data.
 14. The method according to claim 14 further comprising communicating the said status and/or ice production data from said microprocessor to a service provider.
 15. The method according to claim 15, wherein said service provider is at least one provider selected from the group consisting of: ice making device repair provider and ice supplier.
 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said status data comprises at least an identification of said ice making device and said ice making devices status.
 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said ice production data comprises at least an identification of said ice making device and at least one additional parameter selected from the group consisting of: freeze/harvest cycle time and cycle count.
 18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said communicating steps are at least one selected from the group consisting of: Internet, wired telephony, wireless telephony, cable, and any other device capable of communicating said status and/or ice production data from said detector to said microprocessor and/or from said microprocessor to said service provider.
 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein said status and/or ice production data is at least one selected from the group consisting of: freeze cycle time, harvest cycle time, count of completed freeze/harvest cycles, and ice making device fault alert.
 20. The method according to claim 20, wherein said ice making device fault alert is at least one selected from the group consisting of: when the freeze cycle time exceeds a predetermined maximum freeze cycle time limit, when the freeze cycle time is less than a predetermined minimum freeze cycle time limit, when the harvest cycle time exceeds a predetermined maximum harvest cycle time limit, and when the harvest cycle time is less than a predetermined minimum harvest cycle time limit.
 21. The method according to claim 16, wherein said status and/or ice production data communicated is at least one selected from the group consisting of: identification of said ice making device, cycle time for said ice making device to complete a freeze and/or harvest cycle, the number of cycles which said ice making device has completed during the detection period, and status of said ice making device.
 22. The method according to claim 16, wherein said microprocessor is capable of transmitting at least one data selected from the group consisting of: identification of said ice making device, location of ice making device, owner contact information, cycle time for said ice making device to complete a freeze and/or harvest cycle, the number of cycles which said ice making device has completed during the detection period, other operation data, status of said ice making device, operational history of ice making device, identification of parts likely to be need to repair ice making device, and probable cause of alert problem.
 23. A method for monitoring the status and/or ice production of an ice making device, said method comprising: determining said status and/or ice production of said ice making device, thereby producing detected status and/or ice production data; and communicating said status and/or ice production data.
 24. The method according to claim 24, further comprising generating an invoice or having an invoice generated based upon said status and/or ice production data from said microprocessor and wherein said invoice comprises at least one charge selected from the group consisting of: ice making device repair service charge, bagged ice charges and ice production charge.
 25. A method for monitoring an ice making device, said method comprising: determining the freeze and/or harvest times for said ice making device to freeze and/or harvest ice during an ice making freeze/harvest cycle and/or the number of the freeze/harvest cycles; and generating said status and/or ice production data.
 26. An electronic device which is capable of monitoring an ice making machine comprising: a microprocessor for determining the freeze and/or harvest times for said ice making device to freeze and/or harvest ice during an ice making freeze/harvest cycle and/or the number of the freeze/harvest cycles; and a data storage device which is capable of producing said status and/or ice production data. 